How To Deal With Stomach Pain While Taking Mounjaro

Summary Overview

• This usually happens because Mounjaro works by slowing gastric emptying and it greatly affects gut motility which then leads to bloating, cramps, and pain.
• This can be relieved by eating small bland meals, staying hydrated, avoiding fatty and spicy foods, as well as rotating injection sites.
• If symptoms persist and there has been severe upper abdominal pain, fever, nausea/vomiting, jaundice, dehydration, you need to seek urgent medical attention to prevent any further serious complication.

What You Will Learn

By the end of the article, you will learn about the following:

• You will learn about how Mounjaro can possibly cause stomach pain.
• You will learn to recognise typical and serious side effects.
• You will learn about the different practical strategies to reduce GI discomfort.
• You will learn about the different red flags that require medical attention.

What You Need To Know About Mounjaro and Its Digestive Side Effects

Mounjaro is a kind of medication that works by mimicking two hormones which are GLP-1 and GIP. This dual action is significantly powerful for treating weight loss and blood sugar management. It does not only suppress your appetite but it also significantly delays gastric emptying. By slowing down the time at which food leaves your stomach, Mounjaro will keep you feeling full for a much longer time. However, this could also be the primary reason for the gastrointestinal side effects that majority of the users experience.

Because Mounjaro affects your digestive tract, it is common to experience a few gastrointestinal side effects especially during the first weeks of taking it or when you are increasing the dose. Here are some of those:

• Nausea and Vomiting: These are the most frequent side effects that most people have experienced. This is often triggered by eating too quickly or consuming high-fat meals.
• Diarrhea: This usually occurs when the body is still adjusting to the hormonal changes which affect the intestines.
• Constipation: This is a direct result of slowed motility. This happens because as food moves more slowly there is more water absorbed, which then leads to making stool harder to pass.
• Stomach Discomfort: This could be a heavy feeling, cramping, or general indigestion. This happens because of food sitting in the stomach longer than usual.

Why Mounjaro Could Possibly Cause Stomach Pain

Stomach pain while under the medication of Mounjaro typically happens because of the delayed gastric emptying. Because Mounjaro’s primary function is to send signals to your stomach to hold onto food for a longer period, your stomach wall will then become overstretched which could lead to a dull, heavy ache or a “bloating” sensation. This is when most people feel stomach pain. Also, Mounjaro slows down peristalsis. It is a wave-like muscle contraction which moves food intake through the entire digestive tract. When the motility is slow, gas can become trapped in the small and large intestines. This will result in sharp, cramping pains or pressure because the body struggles to move waste along.

Side effects like stomach pain are highly dose-dependent. This means that this often peaks within the 24 to 72 hours after the injection. This also particularly happens when you are increasing into a higher dose. While some patients have reported that they experience almost no discomfort, others have described to have a gnawing or crampy feeling that mimics the feeling of being full after only a few bites. Some also have reported that these symptoms are mostly present and intense during their titration phase. This is because, as the body adapts to the dual hormone action, the stomach’s sensitivity significantly decreases. However, the threshold for discomfort remains highly individual.

While clinical data for this symptom is still emerging, some medical experts’ observations suggest that the injection site could be the primary influence of the severity of gastrointestinal side effects for people taking Mounjaro. Some patients have reported that injecting into the thigh or back of the arm resulted in a milder stomach pain compared with injecting directly into the abdomen. This theory hasn’t been proven and there is no official medical study about this but it could possibly be the reason.

Serious Digestive & Side Effects

While experiencing mild discomfort is typically common, there are still certain conditions that should require urgent medical attention. Gallbladder issues like gallstones could possibly manifest as intense pain in the upper right abdomen. This usually happens after a meal. Pancreatitis is usually rare but is a severe risk. This is described as sharp, persistent pain in the upper stomach which radiates through to the back. It is often accompanied by vomiting. Which leads to severe hydration, if you suffer from vomiting or diarrhea this could happen and might cause you dizziness or kidney strain.

Relief and Management Tips For Stomach Pain on Mounjaro

Dietary & Lifestyle Adjustments

The most effective way to relieve and prevent stomach pain is to change your food diet and lifestyle. You should prioritise eating small, frequent, and bland meals instead of eating three regular heavy meals. You should also avoid eating fried, high-fat, and heavily spiced foods, as these foods are significantly difficult to digest and could worsen digestion in a slowed stomach. Make sure also that you maintain consistent hydration.

Slow Dose Titration & Timing

In order to minimize the potential symptom of stomach pain, you should practice a slow dose titration. This means that you should start at the lowest dose (2.5 mg) for at least four weeks before deciding to increase it for the coming weeks. If you are experiencing significant pain, your doctor might recommend staying at your current dose. This is to allow your GI tract to continuously adapt to the medication. When you maintain a consistent injection schedule, with the same day each week, this helps in keeping your hormone levels stable and it prevents the peak” in medication concentration which most of the time triggers the worst side effects.

Regularly Rotate Injection Sites Properly

The majority of the patients have reported that the location of the injection could possibly affect their symptom severity. They find it less reactive to the medication when you rotate your injection site weekly between the abdomen, thigh, and back of the upper arm. Some patients suggest that injecting in the thigh could possibly result in fewer or less intense stomach pains compared with injecting in the stomach area. This is likely because of the differences in how Mounjaro enters the bloodstream from different fat deposits.

When You Should Seek Medical Help

While stomach pain is typically common and temporary, there might be a possibility that it could be severe and you should immediately seek medical help.

• If you are experiencing persistent or worsening pain that lasts more than a few days.
• If there is a severe pain in the upper middle or right abdomen. Monitor as well if the pain spreads to the back as this could potentially be pancreatitis or gallbladder issues.
• If you have difficulty keeping liquids down or signs of severe dehydration. You might experience having dark urine, extreme thirst, and fainting.
• If you are experiencing a high fever or jaundice along with stomach pain.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

• Why am I experiencing stomach pain?

It is because the primary function of Mounjaro is to slow down gastric emptying. This causes food to stay in your stomach for a longer period of time which could then lead to possible painful stretching, fermentation, and gas buildup.

• Is stomach pain common? How long do they last?

Yes, gastrointestinal issues are very common when you take Mounjaro. This would typically peak during the first few weeks or after a dose increase. This is only temporary as your body is still adjusting to the medication.

• Are there any dietary habits that help reduce stomach ache?

You can prevent it by eating small, bland, low-fat meals and you should also avoid fried foods, spicy dishes, and carbonated drinks.